Thursday, February 11, 2016

3 Basic Facts of Frozen Pipes

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

If it’s cold enough to freeze outside, your plumbing is vulnerable. As a Middle Tennessee homeowner, it’s important to know what to do to protect your plumbing. At Steve Mull Plumbing, we care about the safety and comfort of your family. Once you learn the basics, preventing your pipes from damage that can be caused by extreme winter weather is generally a matter of implementing a few new habits. Check out these 3 Basic Facts of Frozen Pipes below, and remember, should you experience winter plumbing issues, Steve Mull Plumbing is here for you.

3 Basic Facts of Frozen Pipes

Frozen water expands.

That’s why you so often see pipes that burst when the temperatures drop, causing you incredible inconvenience and repair costs. Open cabinet doors beneath sinks to allow warmer room air to reach plumbing behind them. Also, always Insulate or bury pipes in non-heated areas of your home.

Running water requires a much lower temperature to freeze.

Always leave your taps throughout the house open slightly, allowing a slow trickle to run during times of extreme temperatures - especially overnight.

Using a propane torch to unthaw frozen pipes often melts soldered joints as well.

Talk about a mess! Never attempt to use anything stronger than a hair dryer to help assist your frozen plumbing. Better yet, call a reliable plumbing professional.

24-7 Emergency Service

Plumbing issues are never convenient, especially frozen pipes. But at Steve Mull Plumbing, we are available for all of your plumbing emergencies around the clock, 24-7. Need speedy professional assistance with your frozen or bursting pipes? Just pick up the phone. We’ll be right over. Remember, you can count on Steve Mull Plumbing for all of your professional plumbing and contracting needs. Call anytime at (615) 449-5019. We look forward to serving you!

Middle Tennessee's Leading Commercial and Residential Plumbing Contractor!

STEVE MULL PLUMBING | 302 S. Maple St, Lebanon, TN | 615-449-5019

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Backflow Prevention Protects Your Family from Contaminated Water

Mild Tennessee Winters

Here in Middle Tennessee, our winters tend to be much milder than our neighbors in more northern states. We seldom experience the season long, deep freeze typical of those areas. Occasional ustings of snow tend to disappear with the morning sun. Instead of sitting around in stacked snowbanks, the moisture we experience from winter storms tends to melt into the earth, almost at once.

Saturation and Flooding

This can quickly cause the ground to become oversaturated, sometimes leading to flooded drains. Unfortunately, this opens the door to backflow, a serious water contamination issue. The good news is that Steve Mull Plumbing specializes in backflow prevention for your water supply.

Backflow Prevention Installations

During times of extreme saturation and flooding, flow reversal can cause contaminated water to be delivered through your water supply. Backflow prevention installations are a great way to eliminate the risk of flow reversal. As for that dangerous, contaminated water delivered to your family for drinking and bathing? With the installation of backflow prevention in your water supply, you - and they - are safe!

Contact Steve Mull Plumbing

Interested in learning more about having backflow prevention installed to protect your family? Call Steve Mull Plumbing today! They are available for all of your plumbing emergencies around the clock, 24-7. Need speedy professional assistance with your frozen or bursting pipes? Just pick up the phone. They’ll be right over. Remember, you can count on Steve Mull Plumbing for all of your professional plumbing and contracting needs. Call anytime at (615) 449-5019.

Middle Tennessee's Leading Commercial and Residential Plumbing Contractor!

STEVE MULL PLUMBING | 302 S. Maple St, Lebanon, TN | 615-449-5019

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

The Royal Works: Tales of Medieval Plumbing

The Garderobe

The people of the Medieval era did not have the luxury of plumbing as we know it. They relied primarily on chamber pots and outhouses. Those of great wealth and nobility lived in large, opulent manors or castles. In these types of residences, the outhouse was elevated to something called the “Garderobe." The Garderobe, which translates as “wardrobe” in french, was a rather fancy potty chamber. In case you were wondering where the name came from, we have a quaint little piece of trivia for you! Royal residents took to the practice of storing clothing, and later dressing in them, as the lingering smell within the chamber helped deter fleas, moths, and other textile loving insects from devouring their fine garments. Gives a whole new meaning to the words “royal chamber” doesn’t it?

Moat Magic

Ever dream of living in a castle? You’ll probably want to think twice. The reality was far less romantic than the fantasy we’ve come to imagine. The moat surrounding medieval era castles did double duty. First, it served as a line of defense against hostile intruders. Second, the moat also provided a handy sewer for castle occupants. It’s not hard to imagine how this served to fortify the success of the moats defensive function as well.

Grimacing Gargoyles (no wonder!)

The Garderobes we discussed earlier were built within the castle walls, or extended above the moat. Yep - for exactly the reason you’re thinking. A “sluice”, which is basically a gated water slide, whisked the royal waste away into the moat. Many castles in the day chose to erect eerily grimacing gargoyles on the castle exterior. Ever notice a gargoyle functioning as a water fountain? Castle gargoyles were often fed by the sluice leading from the Garderobes, dispensing human wastes into the moat through their gaping concrete mouths.

Need help with medieval plumbing in your home?

Just call Steve Mull Plumbing! We offer around the clock, clock, 24-7 service for all of your plumbing emergencies. No job is too big or small, from updating ancient plumbing systems to fixing frozen pipes. Just pick up the phone, and one of our experienced plumbing technicians will be right over. Count on Steve Mull Plumbing for all of your plumbing and contracting needs. Call anytime at (615) 449-5019. We look forward to serving you!

Middle Tennessee's Leading Commercial and Residential Plumbing Contractor!

STEVE MULL PLUMBING | 302 S. Maple St, Lebanon, TN | 615-449-5019